Grassroots

Grassroots Committee

The Grassroots Committee is responsible for overseeing the production and distribution of Grassroots Forum, the BC/Yukon Area 79 Newsletter.

Grassroots Forum – Statement of Purpose

The following statement of purpose has been adopted by the Grassroots Committee: “The Grassroots Forum is a newsletter by and for the members of Alcoholics Anonymous in BC/Yukon Area 79. It is compiled and edited by the Grassroots Chairperson with the assistance and input of the Grassroots Committee. This newsletter is a vehicle for communication within Area 79 with the aim of strengthening unity and participation. Grassroots is also the means of distribution of the minutes, financial statements and all reports from our Area Quarterlies and Assemblies. It is the aim of the Grassroots Forum to fulfill its purpose with the greatest possible consideration of fiscal prudence and to practice AA principles in all of its affairs.”

Purpose of the Grassroots Committee

  • To assist the Grassroots Chair with recommendations for improvements to the Area Newsletter.
  • To assist in encouraging the fellowship’s participation by submission of articles to be published.
  • To become familiar with page S41 of the AA Service Manual (Area Newsletters or Bulletins).
  • To assist in the development of changes to the Grassroots Newsletter requested by the fellowship within Area 79.

Grassroots Forum – Publication Details

Grassroots Forum is published quarterly by the BC/Yukon Area 79 Service Committee. It carries news and information about groups and committees, minutes and financial statements from the Quarterlies and Assemblies, and reprinted material from AA literature, such as Box 459 and the AA Grapevine. It is the primary means of conveying information between the Area Service Committee and the DCMs and GSRs throughout Area 79.

Grassroots Forum is Distributed to the Fellowship by way of:

  • Being published on the BC Yukon Area 79 website, in pdf Format. This means of access is password protected; if you are an AA member and would like to view this Newsletter online, please contact the Grassroots Chair by email (see below).
  • Publication of a printed magazine which is distributed by mail.

Grassroots Chair

The Grassroots Chair is an appointed position on the Area Service Committee. For more information about the duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson, please see the Job Description below.

Contact the Grassroots Chair by email:

For those wishing to submit their resumes for either an elected or appointed position on the Area 79 Area Service Committee, please download the suggested service resume form Service Resume . The link will reroute you to our elections section of our website. The use of the resume form is not mandatory for either elected positions or appointed positions. However, its use does assist both the candidate and the Fellowship in several ways. These include the provision of consistent information in an organized way and assisting candidates in adhering to time limits for presentation of resumes.

To let your name stand for an appointed position please see: Elections Page

Grassroots Committee Chair: Job Description

The Grassroots Committee chair is responsible for production and distribution Grassroots Forum, the BC/Yukon Area 79 Newsletter and the summary bulletin Grassroots Highlights.

Suggestions for Newsletters or Bulletins

(See A.A. Service Manual, chapter 3)

Newsletters or bulletins published by area committees or central offices/intergroups may include local A.A. news, information about groups and committees, and reprinted material from A.A. literature. As with most A.A. service activities, it has been found prudent to make a committee (rather than one or two individuals) responsible for the format, planning and content.

Duties

  • Produce the Grassroots Forum and Grassroots Highlights four times a year following quarterlies and assemblies.
  • Maintain a subscription list and coordinate mailings (you will need to address and stuff approximately 150 envelopes four times a year).
  • Issue statements for advertising and subscription renewal.
  • Provide digital copies for posting on the Area 79 website.
  • Send a digital copy of each edition to the Area Service Office conference desk.
  • Coordinate with the area chair regarding distribution timeline when quarterly/assembly agendas are to be included for mailing.
  • Send an email notification to subscribed mailing list, DCMs and GSRs.

It is helpful to have volunteers to help you proofread, stuff envelopes and sort as required by your local post office. A reliable computer and access to a printer are a must. Your time-frame is every three months for publication, with each issue being completed 6 weeks following the Quarterly or Assembly, and promptly sent out via website and post. An issue of Grassroots typically takes two months from start to post office drop off. 

Qualifications

  • Have a computer or ready access to one.
  • Desktop publishing ability.
  • Organizational abilities.
  • Understand what is and what is not AA or AA-related material.
  •  Time: Plan on 40-60 hours in addition to regular ASC duties over the 8 weeks following each Quarterly or Assembly to complete an edition. This is a substantial time commitment.
  • Work schedule should be flexible to accommodate last-minute changes or scheduling conflicts, as well and printing and post office hours.

Duties Common to all ASC Members

  • Attend and participate in all regularly scheduled Area Service Committee (ASC) meetings (held in Vancouver on the first Wednesday of each month). Meetings could also be held virtually when necessary.
  • Reply to email, telephone and written questions. Willingness to learn and develop computer/technical skills as necessary.
  • Attend and participate in all quarterlies and assemblies in-person or virtually as required.
  • At each quarterly, assembly and ASC meeting, provide reports on activities since the previous event.
  • Chair appropriate committee at quarterlies and assemblies. Assist with venue set up and tear down.
  • Maintain contact with district and local committee chairs.
  • Maintain contact with district committee members (DCMs) assigned to ASC member’s committee.
  • Submit regular monthly expense reports to the treasurer.
  • Participate in preparation for the Area Service Conference by reviewing and summarizing the assigned agenda background material, providing information to DCMs, chairing the committee meeting at the Pre-conference Assembly, and providing the committee’s recommendations to the assembly and delegate.
  • Facilitate workshops.
  • Participate on Ad Hoc committees as required.
  • Be available for travel assignments, including taking Area 79 archives and/or Grapevine kits to AA events.
  • Review www.bcyukonaa.org content as it relates to the member’s position, providing updates and new materials to the website chair as needed.
  • Prepare and assist for transition of your position at end of your rotation. Ensure flash drive is updated regularly and provided to Secretary annually.
  • Maintaining blue boards/display boards and literature supplies for travel events.

Further Considerations

  • The time commitment required is substantial and will vary from position to position, and also with the particular skills possessed by the member. Generally, some time will be spent every day to check and respond to emails and phone messages. Some jobs have workloads that are heavier at certain times than at others.
  • It is encouraged that you speak with members of the ASC (current or past) to ask more specific questions if you wish to put your name forward for a position.
  • Area Service Committee membership may sound demanding, but, as we so often find in AA, the rewards are far greater than time and effort put in.